Spring House grabs BC Turf berth

DEL MAR, Calif. - Spring House earned a berth to the $3 million Breeders Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 with a victory in Saturdays $250,000 Del Mar Handicap. The lucrative race is likely to be his next start.

When you run in the Breeders Cup, youve got to be fully loaded, trainer Julio Canani said.

The Del Mar Handicap was part of the Breeders Cups Win and Youre In program, offering an automatic berth to the BC Turf, subject to entry fees.

Spring House ($3.40) closed from fifth in a field of nine to win the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths over Transduction Gold. You Got Me Rocking, who set an early pace of 23.84 and 47.04 seconds, held third.

Spring House, ridden by Corey Nakatani, ran 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:11.14, a course record time. Spring House was fourth on the final turn and took the lead in the last furlong. The horse was 100 percent healthy and he got a good ride, Canani said.

Owned by R.D. Hubbard, Spring House, 6, won his third stakes in the last year in the Del Mar Handicap. A gelding, Spring House has won 7 of 33 starts and $718,284.